PERMANENT COUNCIL OF OSCE DISCUSSES SITUATION IN DANUBE REGION

( Editorial: --> 4828 ) VIENNA, Feb 26 (Hina)- The Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday discussed the situation in the Croatian Danube River region in a closed session. The session was attended by National Trust Establishment Committee deputy chairmen Ivica Vrkic and Vojislav Stanimirovic, as well as the permanent Croatian representative to the OSCE Mario Nobilo. At a press briefing after the meeting, OSCE mission to Croatia head Tim Guldimann, who also took part in the proceedings, warned about the deadlock in the implementation of the two-way return. "The return of displaced persons and refugees is not proceeding as scheduled," Guldimann said, pointing to the problem of emigration of Serbs from the Danube region to third countries, especially to Norway. Referring to that, Ambassador Nobilo said they had not departed for political reasons. "Croatia is determined to fully comply with all of its obligations regarding the two-way return, the establishment of trust and reconciliation," stressed Nobilo, calling on the international community to financially help in the reconstruction process and thus prepare the grounds for normalisation of life in the region. In a brief conversation with Croatian journalists, Nobilo said the Croatian delegation stressed at the session that all necessary efforts are being made for the two-way return, but that is being hindered by economic, social and psychological problems. "The Government is also worried about the emigration of Serbs, but equally about the slow return of Croats to Vukovar, which proves that the process has not been caused by political reasons but by the living conditions on the ground," said Vrkic. Stanimirovic stressed that a faster two-way return hinged on financial aid from the international community for reconstruction of the Danube region. (Hina)mm mr/mb 261917 MET feb 98